The URL implicates it as the Empire State. In fact, I'd seen the building in the same picture on a wall of a restaurant I'd visited and my first thought was that it looks like the Empire State. The only thing is it can't be the Empire State because that building has a very distinctive masthead and spire which is missing from the top of the building in this picture.

Not only that, but the lower region of the pictured building has some asymmetry in it's layout. I assumed the building (ES) appears symmetric on opposite sides. But it does have the proportions of the Empire State, so it's very confusing visually.

Here is another picture of a NY high rise which I know to be the Crysler Building and which is also mistakenly referred to as the Empire State in the URL. The funny thing is, the building in the first picture on the list above looks like one of the buildings in the lower left of this next picture. They can't all be the Empire State?

Well that building is between 42nd and 43rd streets on 5th avenue -- right across from the NY Public Library. Don't know the name, though. It is definitely not the Empire State Building. You can look up the intersection of 42nd and 5th avenue on google street view for more photos.

500 Fifth Avenue Building in New York City, New York 500 Fifth Avenue, located between West 42nd and 43rd Streets in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, is a 60-floor, 709-foot office tower built in 1929-31 and designed by the firm of Shreve, Lamb & Harmon in the Art Deco style. Wikipedia Height: 697' (212 m) CTBUH Opened: 1931 Floors: 60 Architecture firm: Shreve, Lamb & Harmon

Thanks to Sigerson and John. Not having been to NY (or the States for that matter) but having seen so many references to NY and general aspects of it's environment over many years, things eventually start to have a certain dreamy familiarity.

That building was driving me NUTS. And no wonder. It was constructed by the same builders of the Empire State Building, and, by the look of things has the same art deco look. It's a mini-me Empire State!

I deduce, therefore, the pictures of the 500 Fifth Avenue Building posted in this thread are of the north-facing side, except for the picture of the Crysler Building I posted, in which case we see it's south and west-facing sides if that lightest coloured foreground building on the lower left is the very same 500 FAB.

. . . And no wonder. It was constructed by the same builders of the Empire State Building, and, by the look of things has the same art deco look. It's a mini-me Empire State!

The top of 500 Fifth Avenue gives us a very good idea of the original design for the top of the Empire State. There's a funny story about that, actually. Tell me if you've heard it.

The Chrysler and the Empire State were under construction at roughly the same time, both aspiring to become the tallest building in the world. The distinctive "needle spire" of the Chrysler building was assembled in secret, inside the lower structure of the building, and just prior to completion, it was shot up through the roof, adding the crucial few feet it needed to beat the Empire State's planned height. The distinctive spire atop the Empire State was hastily designed and constructed "in retaliation," in order to secure the world record. It originally had a very attractive shiny little dome design on top . . .

. . . then years later it was made even higher (though less attractive, IMHO) with the addition of broadcast antennae.

I've always thought someone could make a very exciting movie out of these events.

I deduce, therefore, the pictures of the 500 Fifth Avenue Building posted in this thread are of the north-facing side.

No. the main picture is taken from 40th Street and Fifth Avenue. looking north. Note the full sunlight on the south side of the building. The New York Public Library is at the left.The B&W shot does not include 500 Fifth Avenue, which would be out of frame to the left. The B&W shot seems to be taken from the Empire State Building looking northeast.

Ever use a Norton Anthology in your literature classes? W.W. Norton is headquartered at 500 Fifth.

Yeah, I see what you're getting at, Rozsaphile. Thanks. The top and lower posted (Sigerson) pictures of the 500 FAB is the south side. Now I see it. That means the foliage from the trees on the left from street level (with the 3 yellowcabs) are from the southeastern-most extent of Bryant Park, with the library just to left of them (AHA!). You can see the stop lines on the 5th Ave road in front of the cabs quite clearly when you zoom in using google maps over that part of Manhattan. You can also see 3 large circular fans in photographic map view at the very top of the 500 FAB. The microfilm in Ice Station Zebra sure wasn't worth going to war over!

Sigerson, I was aware of the Chrysler Building spire being pushed through at the last minute. I'd seen something about it years ago. The images of the construction workers walking along the joints and risers with nothing but air and aerial haze to support them from terminal velocity is enough to break me out into a sweat. You can YouTube documentaries, such as this one:

Those old photos of construction workers sitting on a girder eating lunch do give me the willies. There's another one with a worker catching a nap on a girder. I have to cover my eyes. Nightmare stuff!